Peripheral neuropathy decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related disabilities due to herbicide exposure. The claims are also remanded for further development regarding potential exposure at Camp Carroll in South Korea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular disorder (hypertension), and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder have been dismissed. His claim for a higher rating of his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder has been granted with a 70% disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not begin during his active service or within a year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to presumed exposure to herbicides in Korea. The cases of peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, and anxiety), hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, blurred vision, and erectile dysfunction due to incomplete communication with the appellant.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), kidney failure, liver inflammation/infection, and high blood pressure are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the service connection claims for colon cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to burn pits during his service at Camp Pendleton.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to April 17, 2012 for the grant of a compensable rating for his bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing impairment, and peripheral neuropathies, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to a lack of verification regarding his in-service exposures. The VA is instructed to attempt to verify these exposures and obtain an opinion from a clinician regarding their relationship to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease was rated at 60 percent prior to October 10, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating due to lack of congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction less than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the earliest document in the claims file that may be accepted as a claim for service connection was received on May 1, 2014, for peroneal sensory neuropathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological condition, to include peripheral neuropathy but distinct from diabetic polyneuropathy. The evidence did not support that the Veteran had early-onset peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to toxic herbicide agents (Agent Orange).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and/or housebound status, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for this benefit.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, sleep disorder, hypertension, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and right lower extremity neuropathy. The AOJ is instructed to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's assertions and VA/VA examination records support his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular A&A of another person, and the preponderance of the evidence is against his claim for SMC based on A&A or by reason of being housebound.

The Board has restored service connection for Chronic Kidney Disease with Hypertension and found the severance of service connection for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy of the Left Upper Extremity and Right Upper Extremity to be proper.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to incomplete development.